FAQ
Repair, new piles, and foam, with the limits left visible.
Answers cover underpinning and lifting as well as open-ground installs. License numbers, warranty terms, and evaluation-report numbers are not invented here.
What is a helical pile for new construction?
A helical pile (also called a helical pier or screw pile) is a steel shaft with one or more helical plates. It is rotated into the ground, then capped or bracketed for a footing, grade beam, elevated frame, or repair connection. TrueLine uses helicals for new-construction coastal homes and for repair, lifting, and stabilization on existing structures.
Are the piles hammered in?
No. They are advanced by rotation. Nothing on this site means every pile is vertical. A design can call for plumb piles, battered piles, or both.
Why use helicals on coastal lots?
Loose sands, soft organics, high groundwater, storm scour, and salt exposure show up often on Grand Strand and Lowcountry sites. Helical piles can reach a deeper layer with little spoil. They do not erase those conditions. Corrosion, scour, uplift, and lateral load are still the engineer’s checks.
How deep do they go?
Along the Grand Strand, many published coastal installs fall roughly in the 20 to 40 foot range; other coastal counties often fall in a broader 20 to 50 foot band. That is a typical published range, not a specification. Depth follows the soil, the load, and the engineer’s stop criteria. A boring, when one exists, beats a range.
Does torque prove capacity?
Torque is measured while the pile rotates and is written down. It can be correlated to capacity only when the engineer accepts that correlation for the shaft, helices, and soil. A reading is not a substitute for the design.
How long does a new-home install take?
A typical new-home array often installs in about a day. Pile count, depth, access, weather, and tides change that. It is not a schedule promise.
What about galvanizing?
For coastal exposure we plan around hot-dip galvanizing to ASTM A123 unless the engineer of record specifies another coating or steel section. Coating and thickness remain a project specification.
Do you do foundation repair?
Yes. We underpin and stabilize settling foundations, lift and level homes where the structure and soils allow, support crawl-space beam lines, and install helical tie-backs for wall stabilization. New-construction piles and spray foam remain part of the same practice. Request an inspection so we can see the house before quoting.
How does this compare with concrete piers?
A concrete pier is cast and must cure. A steel helical pile is rotated, usually with less spoil, and the steel section does not wait on a cure. Which system belongs on a site is an engineering choice.
Are they accepted for coastal permits?
Building officials in South Carolina and North Carolina see helical products regularly. A current evaluation report (ICC-ES or IAPMO) is one document a reviewer may ask for. We do not invent a report number here. Ask for the current report on the product specified for your job. A report is not a permit and not a flood-insurance decision.
What will it cost?
No price list is published here. Cost moves with pile count, depth, helix layout, shaft, galvanizing, access, mobilization, engineering, geotech, and permitting. Request a quote with your plans for a fixed-price proposal.
Where do you work?
Coastal South and North Carolina from our North Myrtle Beach base: Horry and Georgetown Counties and the Charleston area in South Carolina, and Brunswick and New Hanover Counties in North Carolina, with nearby coastal communities by confirmation. Call or email to confirm a specific lot.
Who designs the piles?
The engineer of record designs the foundation. We coordinate layout, install to the design, and return torque logs and an as-built. License numbers and engineer names are not listed on this site.
Is there a warranty?
Warranty duration and terms are not stated on this site. Ask for the written warranty that applies to your project before you rely on one.
Do you offer spray foam insulation?
Yes. Open-cell and closed-cell spray foam can be quoted with new-construction piles or on their own. Open-cell is commonly used for walls and attics; closed-cell is denser and is often chosen where a vapor or air barrier and higher rigidity matter, including under raised floors in flood-prone coastal homes. We do not publish brand names, R-value guarantees, prices, or warranties on this site; ask for a project-specific quote.
What warning signs point to foundation settlement?
Common signs include stair-step cracks in brick or block, drywall cracks near corners, doors or windows that stick, sloping or bouncing floors, gaps at trim, and a chimney that pulls away from the house. Signs alone do not diagnose the cause. An on-site look and, when needed, an engineer’s review come first.
Can you lift and level a house?
Where soils and structure allow, helical piles with lift brackets can raise and re-support a settled foundation or crawl-space frame. Not every house should be lifted the same way. We inspect first, then quote a plan that fits the engineer’s direction when one is involved.
Do you work on crawl spaces and retaining walls?
Yes. Crawl-space work covers supplemental helical piers under beam lines and related support. Wall stabilization can use helical tie-backs where lateral movement needs anchoring. Encapsulation, sump packages, and waterproofing systems are not claimed as a packaged offer on this site; ask what fits your crawl or wall.
How do I request a quote?
Use the contact form. It emails [email protected] with your name, phone, email, town, services, and message. You can also call (803) 984-3906 or email that address directly. An optional downloadable project brief still exists if you want a file on your device before you write.